Character read-out device



Aug 10, 1965 Filed NOv- 2, 1961 C. R. STEVENS ETAL CHARACTER READ-OUTDEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 10, 1965 C, R. sTEvENs ETAL 3,200,396

CHARACTER READ-OUT DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 10,1965 c. R. STEVENS ETAL 3,200,396

CHARACTER READ-OUT DEVICE Filed Nov. 2,- 1961 v 5 sheets-sheet 3 Athesame as a single complete character.

United States Patent O 3,260,396 CHARACTER READ-@UI DEVIEE Cariile R.Stevens, Pasadena, and Hans C. Moritz, Alhambra, Calif., assignors toRoyal Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaFiled Nov. 2., 1961, Ser. No. 149,62@ I@ Claims. (Cl. 340-373) Thisinvention relates to character read-out devices and more particularly,to improvements in read-out devices employing a drum for characterdisplay.

Character read-out devices are known having a drum with a plurality ofcharacters positioned end-to-end in series about the periphery of thedrum. This arrangement is undesirable because the size of the drum,therefore, the overall size of the read-out device, must be very largecompared with the actual sizeof the characters.

The present invention provides an improved readout device of the drumtype having the size of the drum and thereby the overall size of theread-out device reduced in the order of 50% of the above prior artread-out device and yet the size of the characters displayed are thesame as in said prior art device. In addition, the window of the housingmay be positioned close to the drum, thereby, allowing the characters tobe easily read either in direct lighting or in a darkened room.

Briefly, the present invention provides a digital readout deviceemploying a drum having characters recorded in a serial end-to-endarrangement about the periphery of the drum. However, in contrast to theabove prior art drum read-out devices, the characters on the drumaccording to the present invention overlap such that a portion of onecharacter forms a part of an adjacent character. A housing is providedfor rotatably mounting the drum. The housing has a window whose overalldimensions are The drum is positioned in the housing adjacent the windowsuch that when the drum is rotated into the proper angular position asingle character is masked out by the window for visual observation.

The drum is rotated by a motor coupled thereto by means of a slipclutch. The drum has two cams, one at either side of the drum and camactuated switches are provided for sensing the angular positionindicated by the cams. Electronic circuitry and a detent mechanism areprovided for stopping the rotation of the drum at designated positionsfor character display through the window.

Other details of the present invention may be more fully understood withreference to the following description of the gures of which:

FlGURE 1 is a front elevation view of a plurality of digital read-outdevices connected together to the output of a single motor, parts beingbroken away, and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a developed view of portions of a drum surface havingnumbers and showing corresponding detente on the drum, for use in theread-out devices of FIG. 1 and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a developed view of portions of an alternate drum havingletters and showing the corresponding detents on the drum, for use inthe read-out devices of FIGURE l and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is la developed View of portions of another drum having thecombination of letters and numbers and showing corresponding detente onthe drum, for use in the ICC read-out devices of FIGURE l and embodyingthe present invention;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are side elevation views of cams for use in the read-outdevices of FIGURE i;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of one of the digitalread-out devices shown in FIGURE 1, parts of the control apparatusthereof being shown in block diagram;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of switches for use in the read-outdevices of FIGURE l.

Refer more particularly to the drawings. FIGURE l shows four read-outdevices 10 ganged together and connected to a Vsingle motor 12. Each ofthe read-out devices 10 are identical, therefore, although the followingdescription is directed to a single read-out device the descriptionappliesV equally to the other-s.

Each of the read-out devices Iii include a housing 14 and a drum 16a.The drum a is rotatably mounted to the housing by bearings (not shown)in the conventional fashion.

The drum 16a has a pair of cams 18a and Zita positioned at the right andleft hand sides of the drum 16a as shown in FIGURE 1.

Characters are placed on the periphery of the drum 15a on a charactersurface 23a in between the cams 18a and 29a. The characters are painted,silk screened or recorded by other wall known processes to the drum 16a.Y

FIGURE 2 shows a developed view of the character surface 23a of the drumla which has numbers O through 9 and embodying the present invention.The numbers are generally rectangular shaped and are arranged on thedrum 16a in series, with a portion of adjacent numbers common to bothforming a part of both numbers.

Refer specifically to the arrangement of the numbers `on the drum loa.At the top of FIGURE 2 is a number 5. The bottom curved portion of thenumber 5 forms the top of the number 3. The bottom horizontal line ofthe number 3 form-s the top of the number 0. The number 0 is followed bya number 2 which is separated from the number 0. The lower vportions ofthe number 2, immediately below the curved portion thereof, forms thetop part of the number 6. The lower circular portion of the number 6froms the top half of the number 8. The bottom porltion of the number Sforms the top portion of the number 9. The lower horizontal line of thetop part of the number 9 forms the top of the number 7. The diagonalline of the number 7 forms the top diagonal line of the number 4. Thevertical cross line at the bottom of the number 4 forms the tcp part ofthe number 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a development view of an alternate drum 16h for use inthe read-out device 10, and embodying the present invention. The drumlob has overlapping letters rather `than numbers recorded on a charactersurface 23h. From top to bottom the letters on the drum lb include theletters U, H, R, G, B, P, L, E and F. Similar to FIG. 2 the letters ofFIG. 3 are generally rectangular shaped.

Refer speciiically to the arrangement of the letters of FIGURE 3. Thelower part of the letter U, along with a portion of the vertical lines,form the upper half of the letter H. The lower half of the letter H,including the horizontal cross line, forms the upper part of the letterR. The lower half of the letter R forms the top half of the letter G.The letter B is positioned immediately below the letter G and isseparate therefrom. The lower portion 3 of the letter B forms the upperpart of the letter P. The vertical line of the letter P forms thevertical line of the letter L. The bottom horizontal line of the letterL forms the top horizontal line of the letter E. The lower portion ofthe letter E, including the middle and lower horizontal lines, forms thetop portion of the letter F.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternate drum 16C having the combination of a seriesof rectangular shaped overlapping numbers and letters recorded on acharacter surface 23e, and embodying the present invention. From top tobottom the letters and numbers on the drum 16C include 7, Z, E, S, 3, 0,T and I. The sixth character may either be the number zero or the letterO and the last character may either be the number one or the letter I.

Referring specifically to the characters of FIGURE 4, half of thehorizontal line together with the diagonal line of the letter 7 form thetop part of the letter Z. The bottom horizontal line of the letter Zforms the top horizontal line of the letter E. The lower portion of theletter E, together with the middle and bottom horizontal lines, form theupper portion of the letter S. The lower portion of the letter S,including the middle horizontal line, forms the upper portion of thenumber 3. The bottom horizontal line of the number 3 forms the topportion of the number zero or the letter O. The bottom of the numberzero or letter O forms the top of the letter T. The vertical line of theletter T forms the top part of either a number one or a letter I.

Each complete character on the drums 16a, 16b and 16e of FIGS. 2, 3 and4 is about 1 inch high and 5/s inch wide. If the ten separate numbers ondrum 16a are positioned end-to-end as in prior art read-out devices, thecircumferential length of the drum 16a would be at least ten inches.However, due to the overlapping arrangement of the characters, thecircumference of drum 16a lis 61/2 inches providing a reduction in thediameter of the drum 16a of approximately 35%. Similarly, the reductionin size of the alternate drum 16b is approximately 35% and the reductionin size of the drum 16C is approximately 50%.

A plurality of detents 24a are provided on the side of the drum 16aadjacent the cam 20a. One detent is provided corresponding to each ofthe numbers on the drum 16a. To be explained, a detent mechanism engagesthe detents and stops the rotation of the drum 16a at desired positions.

Similar to drum 16a the drums 16b and 16e have detents 24h and 24Ccorresponding to each of the characters thereon for engaging with thedetent mechanism.

The housing 14 has a window 22 which has the same dimensions as completecharacters on the drums 16a, 16b and 16C. The window 22 is recessed andhas an opening immediately adjacent the character surface of the drum.Thus, when the drum is in the correct angular position the window 22masks olf the adjacent overlapping characters leaving a single characterexposed for visual observation. For example, in the read-out device 10,of FIGURE l, wherein a number zero is displayed, the numbers 3 and 2 aremasked olf from visual observation.

The motor 12 has an output shaft 26 having a connector at one end forcoupling to the input shaft 28 of the connected read-out device 10. Aslip clutch is provided having a plate 30 rigidly connected to the inputshaft 28. The plate 30 frictionally engages the side of the drum 16a forcausing the drum 16a to rotate when the detent mechanism is not engagingthe detents 24a. Also, at the plate 30 end of the input Shaft 28 is aconnector similar to that of the output shaft 16 of the motor 12 whichmay be coupled to the input of another read-out device 10.

FIGURE 7 shows the detent mechanism which includes a detent member 32.connected to the plunger 34a of a solenoid 34. The detent mechanism isarranged such that the detent member 32 engages the sharp rising edge ofeach of the detents 24a when the solenoid 34 is deenergized. When thedetent member 32 engages one of the detents 24a, the correspondingcharacter is positioned in front of the window 22 for visualobservation.

Also provided in the read-out device 10 are two sets of cam actuateddouble pole single throw switches 36, 37 and 38, 39. The pair ofswitches 36, 37 are positioned with actuators engaging the cam 20a,whereas, the switches 38, 39 are positioned with actuators for engagingthe other cam 18a of drum 16a.

FIGURE 5 shows a side elevation view of the cam 20a with the detents 24aremoved. FIGURE 6 shows a side elevation view of the cam 18a. Thebeginnings of the developments of the cams 18a and 20a are indicated bya reference line.

Refer now to FIGURE 8 which shows a schematic diagram of the electricalcircuits of the read-out devices of FIGURE 1. The single pole doublethrow switches 36, 37, 3S and 39 are connected to the output of a sourceof binary signals 40, which is positioned external to the read-outdevice 10. The source of binary signals 40 has eight output lines 40a,'0`, 40b, 40e, 74-05, 40d and m. The output lines 40a and m areconnected to separate contacts of the switch 36. Similarly, the lines40b and 4 077, 40C and and 40d and @T are connected to separate contactsof the switches 37, 38 and 39. The electrical signals applied to theeight output lines by the source 4t) are coded to specify a particularcharacter on the drum 16a. The source 40 may be a digital computer ormanually operated switches for supplying sufficient electrical power oneach of its output lines to energize the solenoid 34.

The poles of each of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 are seriallyconnected through an isolation diode 50 to one end of the coil of thesolenoid 34. The other end of the coil of the solenoid 34 is connectedto the same reference as the source 40.

The cams 18a and 20a are formed and positioned for actuating the polesof the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 in contact with the output lines 40a,40b, 40C and 40d when the number 0 is positioned in front of the window22. The cams 18a and 20a are also formed and positioned for actuatingthe poles of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 into a unique combination ofContact closures for each number on the drum 23a positioned in front ofthe window 22.

Assume that the number 0 is positioned in front of the window 22 andthat the poles of the switches 36, 37, 38 and 39 are connected to thelines 40a, 40b, 40e and 40d. When electrical power is applied to any oneor more of the lines 40a, 40h, 40e and 40dy by the source 40 thesolenoid 34 will be energized and actuate the detent member 32 out ofengagement with the number O detent of the detents 24a. The motor 12 isarranged for continually rotating the shaft 28. Therefore, when the coilof the solenoid 34 is energized and the detent member 32 is actuated,the frictional engagement of the clutch plate 30 with the drum 16arotates the drum 16a. The drum 16a rotates until the point is reachedwhere the electrical power applied on the output lines of the source 40is disconnected from the coil of the solenoid 34 by the correctcombination of Contact openings and closures. At this point the correctnumber is positioned in front of Athe window 22 as specified by theoutput signals of the source 40. When the correct number is positionedin front of the window 22 and power is removed from the coil of thesolenoid 34, the detent member 32 moves back for engaging the detent 24acorresponding to the number specified by the output signals from thesource 40. Thus, the desired number on the drum 23a is locked by thedetent mechanism in front of the window 22.

Although the source of binary signals 40 and the switches 36, 37, 38 and39 have been described for the drum 16a having the numbers 0 through 9,by appropriate re-arrangement of the electrical circuits andsubstitution of cams the drum 16b and 16e may be substituted fordisplaying letters and the combination of letters and numbers. Also,other arrangement may be used for detecting the angular position of adrum such as coded wheels having slidable contacts and other suitablemeans.

What is claimed is:

1. A read-out device the combination which comprises a rotatable memberhaving complete characters recorded in succession on said member andcharacterized by portions of successive characters being recorded in apreselected overlapping relationship to render the resulting characterssubstantially unintelligible when viewed as recorded on the member,means for selectively rotating said member to display a completecharacter and a mask having a viewing area dened for displaying apreselected portion of the member having the characters recorded thereonfor rendering a selected single character visibly discernible whendisplayed in said viewing area.

2. A read-out device the combination which comprises a rotatableread-out drum, complete characters recorded in series about theperiphery of said drum and characterized whereby portions of charactershaving a shape common to an adjacent character are recorded inoverlapping relationship to form the corresponding part of the adjacentcharacter, a mask having a viewing area of substantially the same sizeas said complete characters and positioned adjacent said drum fordisplaying only the portion of the drum corresponding to the area fordening a single character, and means for selectively rotating said drumfor positioning the portion of the drum corresponding to the individualarea delining a single character adjacent said mask to display acharacter.

3. A read-out device the combination which comprises a rotatableread-out drum, a plurality of numbers recorded on said drum andcharacterized whereby portions of numbers having a shape common to anadjacent number are recorded in overlapping relationship to form thecorresponding part of said adjacent number, said numbers being arrangedin series about the periphery of said drum including thef ollowingnumbers in the following order: 5, 3, O, 2, 6, 8, 9, 7, 4 and l, a maskhaving a viewing area of substantially the same size as said numbers andpositioned adjacent said drum for displaying only the portion of thedrum corresponding to the area for defining a single number, and meansfor selectively rotating said drum for positioning the portion of thedrum corresponding to a single character adjacent said mask to display acharacter.

4. A read-out unit the combination which comprises a rotatablecylindrical member, a series of characters recorded on the periphery ofsaid member and characterized by having a portion of each forming anintegral part of an adjacent character recorded in overlappingrelationship, at least one cam mechanically coupled and positioned withrespect to said characters to provide an angular indication thereof, atleast one switch coupled to be actuated by said cam and coupled to beresponsive to applied signals indicative of a desired character fordisplay to provide an electrical indication thereof, means coupled to beresponsive to the indication by said switches for selectively rotatingsaid member, and a housing connected for mounting said cylindricalmember including a Window of substantially the same size as one of saidcharacters and positioned adjacent said member to provide a separateview of each individual character.

5. A numerical read-out unit the combination which comprises a rotatablecylindrical member, a series of numerals recorded on the periphery ofsaid member and characterized by each having a portion forming anintegral part of an adjacent numeral recorded in overlappingrelationship, at least one cam mechanically coupled and positioned withrespect to said numerals to provide an angular indication thereof, atleast one switch coupled to be actuated by said cam and coupled to beresponsive to applied signals indicative of a desired angular positionof said member to provide an electrical indication thereof, meanscoupled to be responsive to the indication by said switches forselectively rotating said member, and a housing connected for mountingsaid cylindrical member including a window of substantially the samesize as said numerals and positioned adjacent said member to provide aseparate view of each numeral.

6. An alphabetic character read-out unit the combination which comprisesa rotatable cylindrical member, a series of letters recorded on theperiphery of said member and characterized by having a portion of eachforming an integral part of an adjacent letter recorded in overlappingrelationship, at least one cam mechanically defined and positioned withrespect to said letters to provide an angular indication of preselectedareas of the periphery of said member, at least one switch coupled to beactuated by said cam and coupled to be responsive to applied signalsindicative of a letter to be displayed to provide an electricalindication thereof, a housing connected for mounting said cylindricalmember including a window of substantially the same size as one of saidcharacters and positioned adjacent said member to provide a separateView of each individual letter, and means coupled to be responsive tothe indication by said switches for selectively rotating said member toposition the preselected areas of the member adjacent the window fordisplaying a single letter.

7. An alpha-numeric character read-out unit the combination whichcomprises a rotatable cylindrical member, a series of charactersincluding letters and numerals recorded on the periphery of said memberand having a portion of each forming an integral part of an adjacentcharacter recorded in overlapping relationship, at least one cammechanically coupled and positioned with respect to said characters toprovide an angular indication thereof, at least one switch coupled to beactuated by said cam and coupled to be responsive to applied signalsindicative of a desired character to provide an electrical indicationthereof, a housing connected for mounting said cylindrical memberincluding a window of substantially the same size as One of saidcharacters positioned adjacent said member to provide a separate view ofeach individual character, and means coupled to be responsive to theelectrical indication provided by said switches for selectively rotatingsaid member to position preselected areas of the member adjacent thewindow for displaying the area individual to a single character.

ti. A numerical read-out unit the combination which comprises, arotatable cylindrical member, a series of complete numerals recorded onthe periphery of said cylindrical member, each of said numerals havingsubstantially the same overall dimensions and characterized by portionsof the characters having an area common to an adjacent characterrecorded in overlapping relationship to form the corresponding part ofthe adjacent numeral whereby the resulting recording is substantiallyunintelligible when viewed as a whole, said cylindrical membercomprising at least one cam being defined and connected to have apredetermined angular relawt'ignship with respect to said numerals andat least one detent corresponding to each of said numerals, a housingconnected for mounting said cylindrical member and including a windowpositioned adjacent the numerals on said cylindrical member and havingdimensions substantially the same as one of said complete numeralsLaplurality of switches positioned for actuation by said cam and connectedto be responsive to applied signals indicative of a desired numeral tobe displayed for providing a corresponding output signal, a latchingmember for engaging said detents and stopping the rotation of saidcylindrical member, solenoid means coupled for normally forcing saidlatching member into engagement with one of said detents and connectedto be responsive to signals from said switches for forcing said latchingmember out of engagement with said detents, motor means including arotatable output shaft, means coupling said shaft to said cylindricalmember, and electrical circuit means coupled for providing a signal tosaid switches indicative of a vdesired numeral for display.

itially arranged characters recorded in partial overlapping relationshipwhereby an individual character is visibly 10. VA character displayelement for a read out element as dened in claim 9 wherein said displayelement comprises a drum having alpha-numeric characters recorded on theperiphery of the drum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,382 5/56Hults 340-316 discernible only when the area of the element individual10 NEIL C. READ Primary Examiner.

to a single character is viewed.

3. A READ-OUT DEVICE THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A ROTATABLEREAD-OUT DRUM, A PLUARLITY OF NUMBERS RECORDED ON SAID DRUM ANDCHARACTERIZED WHEREBY PORTIONS OF NUMBERS HAVING A SHAPE COMMON TO ANADJACENT NUMBER ARE RECORDED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP TO FORM THECORRESPONDING PART OF SAID ADJACENT NUMBER, SAID NUMBERS BEING ARRANGEDIN SERIES ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM INCLUDING THE FOLLOWINGNUMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: 5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 8, 9, 7, 4 AND 1, A MASKHAVING A VIEWING AREA OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS SAID NUMBERS ANDPOSITIONED ADJACENT SAID DRUM FOR DISPLAYING ONLY THE PORTION OF THEDRUM CORRESPONDING TO THE AREA FOR DEFINING A SINGLE NUMBER, AND MEANSFOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING SAID DRUM FOR POSITIONING THE PORTION OF THEDRUM CORRESPONDING TO A SINGLE CHARACTER ADJACENT SAID MASK TO DISPLAY ACHARACTER.